Rotary air engine



Patented Mar. 15, 1932 d UNITED STATES vEmvIE E. CLARKE, or SEATTLE, WAsmNGTON',Ass1eNOE'TO c :nnrsTINnTEEASUnir, y

INCORPORATED, E sEATTLE, `WASHINGTON ROTARY AIE ENGINE Application mea May 2o, 1930.l seria; 1%.-453,9so.v

My invention relates to rotary air engines and certain objects of the invention are to provide an engine havingcentral compart! ments disposed in its shaft and comprising a rotor member fixed to the shaft and having conduits extending therethrough in such tangential relation with the central shaft compartments that the passage of a power medium from the central compartments Outwardly through the conduits will cause the engine to rotate either forward or backward as desired. l

With the above and other objects in View which `will appear as the description lproceeds, the invention consistsv of thenovel construction, adaptation, combination and `arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. These objects are accomplished by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein l Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal vertical section of the engine taken substantially on a broken line 1, 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse vertical sec. tion of the same taken on a broken lme2, 2

ofFig.1;and Y Fi 3 is a plan view `of the engine rotor mem er.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numerals 5 and 6 designate end closure plates through which the power medium, such as compressed air, steam or the like, is conducted into either of two cylindrical chambers 7 or 8 provided in the engine casing designated as a whole by the numeral 9 and having inlet portsvfor entry of the power medium.

A relatively large shaft 10 is journaled through the end plates 5 and 6 and casing 9 and is provided with a central longitudinal chamber having a discharge port extending radially through the shaft at its central portion. A circular artition 11 divides said longitudinal cham er transversely into two equal and separate com artments 12 and 13` and likewise divides sai discharge port into outlets 14 and 15. An intake port 16 forms a communication between the cylindrical chamber 7 and the compartment 12 and an intake port 17 A connects the chamber 8 with the compartment 13. 1

: A rotor member,l designated as a Whole by the numeral 185 is fixed to the shaft 1.0 and-is enclosed bytheengine casing 9. Saidrotor is provided with an" annular chamber' 19 surrounding said shaft 'and embracing both the outlets 14 and 15. The circularpartition 11 -extends exteriorlyfof the shaft and impinges n lthe outer wall of said annular chamber thus 60 `dividing' v'sameyin'to two` separate compartments l2O and21. :As clearly shown in Fig.2"

of the drawings, aplurality of spaced outlet vane ports L22extend''tangentiallly from the annular compartmentV 20 through the rotor ymember 18 whilea plurality of'corresponding y vane ports 23 extendtangentially from the annular compartment 21 at points disposed onr the opposite side of saidcompartmentf from the tangential disposition of the first'- .70 named ports with respect to the compartment 20.; Thus the-vane ports 22 will Yslant in a different direction from theyane yports 23 as Vvvill'be understood. x il. l ,.11 l rlfhe vane ports 22;and 23 have their outlets 75 through` an annular flange 24 formed on the periphery `of. the` rotor-,member 418` and said annular `flange `has its. bearin between ,the aligned annular/flanges 25of t e engine casing 9which flanges 4also provide a bearing for the periphery of said rotor member as a whole. The t engine` casingis annularly recessed between said annular flanges 25` and its outer cylindrical surface-and a heavy collar or band 26, "is :set intol said 'recess and secured to the engine casing by screws127. Diametricallyv 29 to which discharge or exhaust pipes may be connected.

Referring to Fig. 1 and assuming that compressed airis being supplied to the cylindrical chamber 7 and through the port 16 tothe compartment 12 within the shaft 10, from said compartment the air will pass through the 10o outlet 14 into the annular compartment 20. from which compartment it will pass outwardly through the Vane ports 22 and the discharge ports 28 thus causing the rotor member 18 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction. On the other. hand, if We assume thatl compressed lair is being supplied to thecompartment 8 same Will pass through the port 17, compartment 13, outlet 15, annular compartment"21'-and then outwardlyf'through vane ports l23, discharge ports '28, -and Will thus cause the rotor to revolve in the reverse or y clockwise direction. As shown in Fig. 2, spaces 30 .areprovided on the inside of the collar 26 extending on :both sidesffrom'each of the discharge :portsv 28 nearlyhalf Way around or closeto .the oppositely kdisposed* discharge A'ports' whereby .an lair cushion: is provided .for the rotor flange mem'ber'24 andlat the same time .meansris provided foritheiair to pass from said spaces out- 'Ywardy through .the discharge ports. `From thelioregoing.` description asa whole `:it Will be apparent that `means forY .admitting pres 25 'sure medium to the vaneportsis providedat all times regardless of the positionffoflthe shaft 10 and the rotor18and .Whether samezis at rest or Ain motion.

Having .thus described :myinventiomy it bee 'ingunderstood that minorchangesin itsrconstruction and arrangement ,may be resorted to without departing from the scope and' spirit of' the invention7 What I claimand desireto secure by LettersPatent of the United States y,35 11s:- I f .'Arotary air'enginev-having in combination a rotary'element, a casing :for said rotor, a shaftlfixed -to the rotor .andihavingla ktwin chamber therein With an in'letand an outlet 45 openingfor each of'itshalvesfsaid rotorihav- 'ing an annular'chamber for each of1said out lets and disposedl :in constant2communic'alton therewithysaid rotor also having asystemof Y vanevoutlet ports arranged in tangential communieation with one of said annular chambers :andk another :corresponding system of vane ports arrangedlin opposite .tangential relation with the other annular chamber, said casing havinga cylindrical chamber for eachlof the compartments of the shaft twin chamberl and communicating therewith by means of the aforesaid inlets,fand means'for supplying a power'medium to either :of said cylindrical chambers. 1n testimony'vvhereof I aix my signature. Y VERNIE E. CLARKE. 

